Canada and Dan Lewis part ways after two seasons: a new chapter awaits the Men’s National Team

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Volleyball Canada has announced that Dan Lewis will no longer serve as head coach of the men’s national team, bringing an end to his tenure after two international seasons and a challenging Olympic qualification campaign.
The decision comes as Canada prepares to begin a new chapter ahead of the 2027 season.

Lewis was appointed senior men’s head coach in January 2025, succeeding Tuomas Sammelvuo. A former Canadian international libero who represented his country until 2016, he had already built a strong connection with the national programme, having worked as an assistant coach — including at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games — and as head coach of the Next Gen programme.
His first season offered encouraging signs: Canada finished 14th in the 2025 Volleyball Nations League and reached the knockout stage of the World Championship in the Philippines. One of the highlights was a convincing 3–0 victory over Japan, then the top-ranked team in Canada’s pool, which demonstrated the team’s potential under its new coach.

The 2026 campaign, however, proved considerably more difficult.
Canada finished the Volleyball Nations League in 17th place, with only one win from 12 matches, and was relegated from the competition ahead of the 2027 edition.
The team’s Olympic hopes also came to an end in September, when hosts Canada lost 3–1 to Cuba in the NORCECA qualification final in Moncton.
The defeat handed Cuba the ticket to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Despite the disappointing results, Lewis’ contribution to Volleyball Canada extended well beyond his time as head coach. In 2023, he led the country to gold at the NORCECA Pan Am Cup and also oversaw the men’s National Excellence Program, helping develop the next generation of Canadian players.

Volleyball Canada Chief of Sport Kerry MacDonald acknowledged Lewis’ years of service and expressed appreciation for his work with the programme.

“Dan has given a great deal to Volleyball Canada and to the program over the years, and I have a tremendous amount of appreciation for his contributions,” he said. “On behalf of Volleyball Canada, we wish him the best.”

Lewis currently remains active at club level as head coach of Alterna Stade Poitevin in France.
Meanwhile, Volleyball Canada has confirmed that further information regarding future appointments within the national team staff will be announced in due course.
The senior men’s national team is scheduled to resume training in spring 2027 at its new base, the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre in Scarborough, Ontario. With a new coaching structure expected, Canada now faces the task of rebuilding its international momentum and returning to the level that had made it a regular presence among the world’s leading teams.

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